March Madness basketball games blocked at Genesee County school buildings after too much streaming slows GenNET

A technical issue disrupted Internet service for dozens of Michigan universities, colleges, intermediate school districts and libraries late Tuesday, Feb. 26.MLive file photo

FLINT, MI – The Genesee Intermediate School District has blocked access to college basketball games over its GenNET after individuals watching the NCAA’s “March Madness” last week prevented students from viewing online instructional resources.

GenNET staff was flooded with calls Thursday, March 21, in reference to slow Internet response, according to an email sent out to “everyone” in the Fenton Area Public School District.

“Upon further investigation, the bottleneck was due to end-users watching one of the 'March Madness’ basketball games across the county,” the email read. “Many teachers across the county were frustrated and complaining that students could not access online resources for instructional purposes during this timeframe.”

Both Michigan and Michigan State played on Thursday, along with eight games across the country.

The GISD provides services through Genet, but it is up to each district to set standards for its own users, according to GISD spokesman Jerry Johnson.

“The GISD subsequently has blocked all network access for streaming video connectivity to the NCAA games,” Johnson said in an email to MLive-Flint Journal. “This was based on feedback from our partner districts who were expressing concern about network performance last week.”

Johnson said he did not know how many people streamed the games online or how many buildings the improper use affected.

The GISD does not make a decision on what online content is blocked or what is allowed, outside of complying with the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

“However, when it’s clear that something is going on that impacts everyone on the network, then we intervene to ensure the problem is addressed,” Johnson wrote. “This is just an isolated event that was brought to our attention, we diagnosed, and we addressed it.”

Fenton’s technology department warned district employees that streaming video for personal gain is a violation of the district’s acceptable use policy.

“Use of district policy is a privilege to be used to promote educational excellence within the educational goals of the district,” Fenton’s email read.